TWO YOUNG FEMALE SURFERS have landed the prestigious International
Surfing Association's (ISA) Surfing Scholarship for 2008.

Fourteen-year-old Ametza Nicholls and 12-year-old
Chelsea Tuach ( seen here in action ) were two of just 20 surfers
from 16 countries around the world who are now world-wide surfing
ambassadors.

Nicholls, a student at The St Michael School, and Tuach, a first-former
at Queen's College, ended last year ranked first and second respectively
in the Open Ladies Division while Nicholls is the reigning Under-18 Girls'
champion and Tuach the Under-12 champion.

Both have already secured their places on the junior team that will be
travelling to the ISA Junior World Championships in France in May.

The two were ecstatic on hearing the news and both see this as a step
on the path to turning pro.

"I want to be a pro surfer and go on the women's world surfing circuit
and travel," said Chelsea, who has been surfing since she was seven.

After the initial euphoria on learning the news, Chelsea explained: "It's
[the ISA scholarship] really good for my surfing 'cause the money I'm
going to get will let me go to France."

The first-former, whose dream was always to attend Queen's College, said
she was doing well at school. Juggling school work and surfing is no problem
for her, she said, adding that she tried to complete homework at school
and then put two hours in the water.

For Ametza who burst onto the local surfing scene in late 2004, her dream
of turning pro seems one step closer to reality with the scholarship.

But she frankly admitted she had to cross the immediate hurdle of Caribbean
Examination Council's (CXC) exams.

"Right now I have some CXCs like Maths and I'm supposed to be going
to France, but I have some CXCs around the same time so I'm not quite
sure how that is going to work out," she said.

"Right now I'm hoping to turn pro, but I want to concentrate on
my CXCs so at least if that doesn't work out I can have them to fall back
on."

She, too, has mastered the art of juggling school and work.

"I don't really have any problem," she explained. "I try
to go every evening."

Ametza who has been to Brazil as part of the team that competed at ISA
Junior Surfing Championships in Brazil, said overseas experience has made
her a better surfer.

"You get to see other surfers and compare styles and it helps you
to want to get better."

Both Ametza and Chelsea have credited older brothers with introducing
them to the sport. In addition, they have also thanked president of the
Barbados Surfing Association Andrew Lewis for having encouraged them to
enter.

The scholarships were awarded on skill and academic ability and is intended
to help finance overseas trips and equipment.